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The Savvy Newcomer aims to serve newcomers to the translation and interpreting professions by publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed content on a weekly basis. We strive to provide you with the answers to the many questions you face as a new or aspiring translator or interpreter.

Embracing the Part-Time Paradigm: Empowering Part-Time Professionals to Adopt the Small-Business-Owner Mentality

By The Savvy Newcomer | March 11, 2025
Embracing the Part-Time Paradigm Empowering Part-Time Professionals To Adopt the Small-Business-Owner Mentality

Many language professionals start out doing their work 鈥渙n the side鈥 of whatever else they are doing in life. When people find out you are bilingual, you may be asked to do some volunteer interpreting to help out a friend, family member, or someone in need, or you may agree or be expected to do the occasional translation鈥攁nd maybe even get paid for it. Volunteering and doing small side jobs are great ways to gain experience and improve your skills as a translator or interpreter. But in order to be a professional鈥攚hether you plan on doing this work part-time or…

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Continuing Professional Development Reflection: From Translation Student to Freelance Translator

By The Savvy Newcomer | March 14, 2023
Continuing Professional Development Reflection- From Translation Student to Freelance Translator

This post was originally published on Bell Johnson Translations. It is reposted with permission. As work has started picking up for me over the past few months, I鈥檝e found it increasingly harder to try and find time to undertake continuing professional development (CPD) activities. That鈥檚 why I decided I was going to make my first ever CPD plan, but there…

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Trade Show Tips for Translators

By The Savvy Newcomer | February 14, 2023
Trade Show Tips for Translators

This post was originally published on Business Translated. It is reposted with permission. Go to a few trade shows and you鈥檒l realise that attending these kinds of events is still unusual behaviour for a translator. I travelled up to London recently for an exhibition and听most people I spoke with had never met a translator before and were curious about my…

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The Most Lucrative Ways to Specialize

By The Savvy Newcomer | February 7, 2023
The Most Lucrative Ways to Specialize

This post was originally published on The Freelancery. It is reposted with permission.听 Yes. Specialists always do better. There is no debating this. I can鈥檛 think of听any听freelancer听who made it big as a handyman. The world already has plenty of all-purpose copywriters, versatile translators, general web designers and utility infielders. Don鈥檛 jump into that haystack. You will be lost forever. It…

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How to Use Video to Attract New Clients to Your Website

By The Savvy Newcomer | January 10, 2023

This post was originally published on Successful Freelance Translator. It is reposted with permission. Hey, guys! Many of us have personal websites (if no, check one of听my posts to learn why you should) and you may wonder how to attract new visitors and convert them into clients. In this posts, I will show you how to use video to attract…

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What to Do With All Those Languages You Speak

By The Savvy Newcomer | November 22, 2022
What to Do With All Those Languages You Speak

The following is a translation of the post 鈥淭raduction: Que faire de toutes ces langues que vous parlez?鈥 (you can read the original via the hyperlink) by Matilda Gascon Delqueux from the blog Master TSM Lille, translated by our very own Kevin L. Hull. Without further ado, here is the translation. Many of us know languages besides those we studied…

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Using LinkedIn to Research People and Companies

By The Savvy Newcomer | October 18, 2022
Using LinkedIn To Research People And Companies

This post was originally published on Bruce Johnston’s blog. It is reposted with permission. I thought today I would go over an example of the research I would do before talking to a prospect. Here are the steps I take: I will check their company page to see how it matches up with their website and to review all their…

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Buddies Welcome Newbies: Starting #ATA63 Off on the Right Foot

By The Savvy Newcomer | October 6, 2022
ATA 63rd Annual Conference

Buddies Welcome Newbies: Starting #ATA63 Off on the Right Foot We鈥檙e so excited to welcome you to ATA63 in sunny Los Angeles! This year will be ATA鈥檚 first fully in-person conference since Palm Springs, and we can wait to see everyone. If you鈥檝e already attended other in-person conferences this year or if this is your first one, navigating this new…

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Nine Questions from Language Majors on Their Next Steps to Becoming a Translator or Interpreter

By The Savvy Newcomer | October 4, 2022
Nine Questions from Language Majors on Their Next Steps to Becoming a Translator or Interpreter

If you are a language major considering your next steps, you鈥檝e come to the right place! The translation and interpreting field is growing rapidly, and ATA is the largest association of its kind in the world. Whether you鈥檙e looking to become a successful solopreneur, interpret for the president of the United States, or work at a medical clinic in your…

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Savvy Diversification Series 鈥 How I Became a Medical Writer

By The Savvy Newcomer | September 20, 2022
How I Became a Medical Writer

The Savvy Newcomer team has been taking stock of the past year and finding that one key priority for many freelance translators and interpreters has been diversification. Offering multiple services in different sectors or to different clients can help steady us when storms come. Diversification can help us hedge against hard times. With this in mind, we鈥檝e invited a series…

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Avoiding Your Biggest R茅sum茅 Mistake – How to Target Your R茅sum茅

By The Savvy Newcomer | September 13, 2022
Avoiding Your Biggest Resume Mistake - How to Target Your Resume

We send r茅sum茅s out all the time, in response to direct requests and in hopes of getting work. R茅sum茅s (or 鈥淐Vs鈥 for European clients) can be a vexing topic 鈥 but they don鈥檛 have to be. The Basics Let鈥檚 start with what you should include: Your name Your language combination Your contact details Your skills Your relevant experience The technology…

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